Man Stole Pocketbooks From 8 Cars At Suffolk Gas Stations: Cops

A 47-year-old man is accused of stealing pocketbooks from eight vehicles at numerous Suffolk County gas stations over the past two weeks, Suffolk Police said.

Craig Mastandrea, of Lake Ronkonkoma, is charged with seven counts of fourth degree grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and petty larceny.

Following an investigation, Fourth and Sixth Precinct detectives, along with assistance from the Fourth Precinct Crime Section, determined that Mastandrea would park his vehicle, and while pretending to get gas, remove a pocketbook from a woman’s vehicle.

Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers initiated a traffic stop and arrested Mastandrea at the intersection of Smithtown Boulevard and Old Nichols Road in Nesconset at about 9:40 a.m. Tuesday.

The following is a list of the eight larcenies committed by Mastandrea, police said:

• August 24, Speedway Gas, located at 440 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma
• August 27, Speedway Gas, located at 370 Route 25A Miller Place
• August 31, Stop & Shop gas station, located at 2350 North Ocean Ave., Farmingville
• September 2, Speedway Gas, located at 440 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma
• September 2, Cumberland Farms gas station, located at 316 Smithtown Blvd., Ronkonkoma
• September 2, BP Gas, located at 762 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset
• September 3, Cumberland Farms gas station, located at 316 Smithtown Blvd., Ronkonkoma
• September 7, BP Gas, located at 294 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset

Detectives are asking anyone with information or who may have been a victim to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

Mastandrea will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday.